Assassination of Marcel Tengeneza
On 14 December 2016, Mr Marcel Tengeneza was shot and killed in Kirumba, North Kivu by two unidentified men who had intruded into his house.
The family of assassinated human rights defender continues to call on local authorities in Beni-Butembo for a thorough investigation into his killing.
Marcel Tengeneza worked in several different non-governmental organisations throughout his career as a human rights defender. Up until his assassination, he worked at the Regional Council of Development NGOs – Conseil Régional des ONG du Développement (CRONGD). It is reported that he had previously worked at the Program to Support the Development of people living in the rainforest, Pygmies too - Programme d’appui au développement des populations forestières en RDC, les pygmées aussi (PAP-RDC) and as the Vice President of a civil society coalition in Kirumba.
The family of assassinated human rights defender Marcel Tengeneza continues to call on local authorities in Beni-Butembo for a thorough investigation into his killing in December 2016.
On several occasions, family members of Marcel Tengeneza have approached local authorities in person and by mail to request an update on the investigation of his killing. In contacting local authorities about the case and investigation, they persist in their call for a thorough and impartial investigation. On 11 January 2017, Marcel Tengeneza’s brother filed a complaint at the Military Prosecutor’s Office in Beni. In this complaint, he requested justice to be delivered in the case of his brother’s unidentified assailants, for the investigation to not be delayed, and for the family to be made aware of all developments in the case.
In January, Marcel Tengenza’s wife went to speak with the Military Prosecutor’s Office at Kanyabayonga and while waiting for her meeting, she and her young child were put in a holding cell with two prisoners for two hours. She was obliged to pay a fee to the military personnel who had escorted her to the Military Prosecutor’s Office by motorcycle.
On 14 December 2016 Marcel Tengeneza was returning to his house after having escorted a friend home when he came upon two armed men in military outfits outside his door. Upon his arrival at his home, the two men shot him repeatedly, and he was killed immediately. The two unidentified men were not found following the assassination.
Front Line Defenders strongly condemns the killing of Marcel Tengeneza and recognises that his assassination is part of a larger pattern of targeting human rights defenders in the DRC and particularly in North Kivu, including the 2016 killing of Father Vincent Machozi in Butembo. Front Line Defenders calls on DRC authorities to persist with a thorough and impartial investigation into Marcel Tengeneza’s assassination, with a view to publishing the results and bringing those responsible to justice in accordance with international standards.
On 14 December 2016, Mr Marcel Tengeneza was shot and killed in Kirumba, North Kivu by two unidentified men who had intruded into his house.
Download the Urgent Appeal (PDF)
On the night of 14 December 2016 Marcel Tengeneza was in his home in Kirumba, North Kivu, when unidentified, armed men entered his home at approximately 8 pm and shot him. Marcel Tengeneza died instantly. Earlier that day, Marcel Tengeneza had attended a workshop organized by the Council of Elders under the guidance of The United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo – MONUSCO. The meeting was reportedly scheduled to discuss the security situation in the region, and how the movement of displaced peoples has been impacting local communities. According to Marcel Tengeneza’s colleagues, the human rights defender was targeted for his participation in this meeting.
Front Line Defenders strongly condemns the killing of Marcel Tengeneza and recognises that his assassination is part of a larger pattern of targeting human rights defenders in the DRC and particularly in North Kivu, including the 2016 killing of Father Vincent Machozi in Butembo.
Front Line Defenders urges the authorities in DRC to:
1. Strongly and immediately condemn the killing of Marcel Tengeneza;
2. Carry out an immediate, thorough and impartial investigation into the assassination of Marcel Tengeneza, with a view to publishing the results and bringing those responsible to justice in accordance with international standards;
3. Guarantee in all circumstances that all human rights defenders in DRC are able to carry out their legitimate human rights activities without fear of reprisals and free of all restrictions.
